John McCririck, 78, reveals 'gaunt and frail' appearance was down to serious flu that left him unable to speak

John McCririck has insisted he is 'not dying' and asserted that his 'gaunt and frail' appearance is down to a bout of serious flu during an interview on Monday's This Morning.

The former racing pundit, 78, sparked concern among fans after appearing dramatically different while joining the panel for Big Brother's Bit On The Side on Thursday evening. 

John told Holly Willoughby and Phillip Schofield that his dramatic weight loss is down to a serious bout of flu, which left him unable to speak for three months.

He said: 'It flattens you, I couldn’t speak for three months. It floors you. You become all weak because of the antibiotics.

'I am weaker and recovering slowly. A lot of people say "the flu, everyone has had the flu" but honestly, it puts you back and they fill you with pills.'

John previously told MailOnline that he hadn't been aware of how much weight he had lost but that his wife had ordered him to the doctors weeks before.

He said: 'I have had blood tests done, but they've said my blood pressure is perfect. It's because my wife, The Booby, takes such good care of me.' 

However, John had some choice words to say about Channel 4 who sacked him in 2009.  

He also told MailOnline that his unemployment had made him 'mope' around the house and he felt sluggish ever since. 

He said: 'After Channel 4 sacked me, I felt depressed. What have I got to do with my day now? Watch Jeremy Kyle, This Morning, avoid Judge Rinder, Deal or No Deal... I have no purpose in life.

MailOnline